October 17, 1981
Iowa at Michigan
As the 1981 season opened, it appeared this game would be a Belt match-up but with preseason No. 1 Michigan as defending champion. An opening day loss to Wisconsin changed that. Now 5th ranked at 4-1, the Michigan Wolverines of coach Bo Schembechler hosted the 12th ranked, 4-1 Iowa Hawkeyes of coach Hayden Fry who were defending The Belt. The Hawkeyes used 3 field goals from freshman PK Tom Nichol to claim a 9-7 win over the powerful Wolverines & retain The Belt. Nichol connected on field goals of 20 & 36 yards in the 1st quarter as the Hawkeyes took a 6-0 lead. Midway through the 2nd quarter, the Wolverines faced a 3rd & 15 situation from the Iowa 17-yard line when QB Steve Smith found All-American WR Anthony Carter open in the corner of the end zone on a touchdown pass giving Michigan a 7-6 lead they held through halftime. Iowa tried to establish momentum on their first drive of the 3rd quarter as they attempted to converted a 4th & 2 play from the Michigan 45-yard line but Iowa’s RB Phil Blatcher was hit by Michigan’s LB Ben Needham & a fumble followed. Neither team recovered the ball before it rolled out of bounds at the Iowa 40-yard line but Michigan took over possession on downs. Two plays later, Smith hit Carter for a 29-yard gain to the Iowa 10-yard line. Three plays after that, Smith tried to connect with TE Dave Betts but Betts was hit trying to make the catch & the ball deflected into the hands of Iowa’s LB Mel Cole for the interception. The Hawkeyes took the turnover & drove to field goal position before Nichol converted the 30-yard attempt giving Iowa a 9-7 lead. Michigan got into Iowa territory once more in the game but that drive was stopped when Hawkeyes’ All-American DE Andre Tippett & All-Big Ten DT Mark Bortz tackled Carter short of the marker on a 4th down reverse. Iowa’s QB Gordy Bohannon threw for 127 yards while the Wolverines’ Smith threw for 108 yards with a touchdown but also an interception. Michigan’s RB Butch Woolfolk, who entered the game as the nation’s 4th leading rusher, was held to just 56 yards rushing as the Hawkeyes defeated the Wolverines for the first time since 1962. Iowa finished the season 8-4; Big Ten Co-Champs & ranked 18th nationally while the Wolverines finished 9-3 & ranked 12th nationally. Michigan would play for The Belt again in 2 weeks.
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